And its, by far my favorite time of year…
Fall feelings are near!
Once upon a time, over two decade ago (wow), our family covered this white pumpkin with orange yarn—one strand at a time. What’s the point of this, you ask? Delight springs to mind. But looking back, it is precisely these types of activities that built patience into my four children. They will be the first to tell you that nothing beautiful happens speedily! This project took many October days to complete in little spurts. During the process my four exercised their observation skills. They became very aware of the fact that the pumpkin’s shape is organic, non-symmetrical. They gained fine motor skills applying glue with a brush, cutting a strand of yarn just the right length, and affixing. Ultimately, they exercised grit by seeing this exercise to its conslusion.
Never discount the power of a good craft!
Now, during the last slow days of summer, is the time to get busy preparing. Whether you are teaching primary, elementary, middle or high school students ELA, we’ve got you!
Primary is Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade
For primary students be sure to check out Print Shop which is chock full of ABCeDarian crafts—crafts tied to the sounds of the alphabet. Why? Because English Language Arts is an art form that requires curiosity, imagination, and hand skills. After all, we believe the best technology for learning to write well is the pencil. Download projects, gather material, and be prepared to begin the school year with ease.
Elementary is 3rd and 4th and 5th Grade
Help your students build a rich lexicon—their very own collection of words. Check our our Print Shop introduction to the wonder of words with this Collective Noun downloadable activity.
And begin the 3rd grade with Operation Lexicon Traits of Character to help your students collect a specific collection to describe the rich characters they will encounter as they read stories.
And click through to Print Shop, More for Teachers, and you will discover our brand new Reader’s Guides. These are crafted to walk with you through a close reading, offering some insights that we hope will inspire you and your students.
Middle School is Grades 6 and 7 and 8
In middle school, students are learning to use rhetoric to make their sentences stylish. One True Sentence: Tools of Style, begins in 5th grade and really ramps up in middle school. Amplification? Polysyndeton? Tools of Style help students write better sentences. Print Shop Writer’s Guides offer more practice along the way.
High School is Grades 9 and 10 and 11 and 12
This is where Blackbird & Company students take flight! With CORE Level 4, students will read and explore characters, themes, symbols and motifs, journalling for four weeks and culminating in a literary essay guided each step of the way.
Our Pages Online offer Literature + Writing Level 4, Intermediate and Advanced Composition, plus Art History / Studio and Music History / Appreciation electives.
